Outlet-box.



J. BpMGGINLEY.

OUTLET BOX.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1911.

1,131,399. PatentedMar. 9, 1915.

l mmv `WITNESSES INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. MQG'JINI'EY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HANDY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

OUTLET-BOX.

Application led June 23, 1911. Serial No. 684,888.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES B. MCGINLEY, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Outlet-Boxes, of which the fldllowing is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and highly eiicient mechanical and electrical connection between a bonding clamp,conduit busliing,fixture stud, or other coupling device and the outlet box to which such coupling is applied, the construction being such that a surface wedging action is set up, preferably at at least two points, which operates to cut through any enamel, paint, rust or other foreign substance on the surfaces of the connecting parts, bringing the metal of the parts in direct and positive contact in such manner as to provide a thoroughly efficient electrical union. The particular form of coupling is not of essence of the invention for, as above indicated, the saine may be variously embodied.

A further purpose is to provide an effective cover for each of the several openings formed through the box which is securely held in place and which may be readily removed whenever the opening is required, the cover being preferably in the form of a disk or plate which engages one surface of the box with lugs projecting through the opening and having wedging engagement with the opposite surface. In the preferred adaptation, the box is formed of plate metal, and the wedging surfaces are formed by upsettig or pressing the metal adjacent the opening, with these upset portions operating to wedge and hold the cover in place when the opening is not in use, and to similarly hold the coupling when the latter is applied.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a box constructed in accordance with the invention, the view being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and with the box shown connected by a bonding cla-mp to a gas pipe.- Fig. 2 is an exterior elevationof the box, with covers applied to some of the openings and removed from others. Fig. 3 is a section through a conduit bushing and box, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation. of the bonding clamp and box, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6` are details of the Specication of Letters Patent.

PatentedvMar. 9, 1915.

cover for the'coupling openings, and Fig. 7 is a view 1n perspective of a ortion of a wall of the box, showing the ormation of the coupling opening. Fig, 8 is a detail of the conduit bushing, and Fig. 9 is a similar view of the bonding clamp. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a stud-like coupling used. for `connecting an electrical fixture.

Referring to the drawings, the plate metal outlet box is of conventional form, being provided with usualscrew openings 3 for fastening to a joist, studding or other wall or ceiling part. The back of the box and its side walls are formed with a plurality of coupling openings 4, one of these openings being preferably arranged through the center of the back to receive a bonding clamp 5, as in Figs 1, 2 and 4, for use in connection with a gas pipe 6, or to receive a threaded stud 7 Fig. 10, for supporting an electrical fixture, though it will be understood that the bonding clamp, also the fixturestud, may be applied to any other opening 1n the box, either at the back or through one of the sides. j

The arrangement is preferably such that the coupling, regardless of its form, is in-` se'rted through the inside of the box, and with one exception the coupling ma be fastened in place by manipulating it within the box. The portion of the coupling which extends through opening 4 is preferably cir-y cular in cross-section, and each of openings 4 is also circular, with opposite offsets or enlargements 4, and with opposite edges of the opening bent, pressed, or upset to form the inclined surfaces 8 which terminate yin the shallow notches or seats 9. All of the coupling openings in the box are adapted to receive interchangeably the several coupling devices to which reference has been made. Inasmuch as the inclined or wedge surfaces 8 are formed bv being bent, pressed', or upset, it will be readily understood that these iio ' of the coupling members,

the box and to ride up on and tightly wedge against osets 8 when the sleeve or clamp is turned home, lugs 12 being brought into register with notches or seats 9 with which they form suicient engagement to hold the clamp securely in place, preventing it from turning backward and loosening. By thus wedging the parts together by a sweeping movement of one over the other which has the effect of scraping or cutting from the surface any enamel, paint, rust or grease lodged thereon a positive and permanent electrical as well as mechanical connection is formed which adds greatly to the etliciency of the box and coupling. The bonding clamp may be variously secured tothe gas pipe 6, in the present adaptation bind- -ing screw 13 being shown which is preferably recessed at its inner extremity to form a peripheral edge which bites into the pipe when the screw is set, as indicated at 13', Fig. 1.

The coupling duit 15 may be of the split form shown, with its inner end formed' with the headed ange 16 which engages the. inner surface ofthe box, and with lugs 17, like lugs 12, spaced from iange 16 suciently to wedge upon the inclined surfaces 8. Bushing 14 is shouldered internally at 14 toreceive the extremity of theconduit and to provide a smooth surface or runway for the wires. While the conduit may be fastened within the bushing invany suitable manner, the split .form of the latter in connection with clamp nut 18 provides for securely connecting said parts. The end formation of the coupling stud 7 is substantially the same as that of the bonding clamp 5, the stud being flanged at 19 to engage the inner surface of the box, and. neck 7 provided with lugs 20 which coperate with the inclined surfaces 8, as heretofore described. l

Each of the several openings 4 when not in use may be conveniently closed by a disklike plate orcover .21 which is slightly larger than the opening and is adapted to bear against the inner surface of the box wall, hook-like lugs 22-being struck up from cuts in the disk and adapted to enter the opening 4 and wedge upon the inclined surfaces 8 when the disk` is turned and thereby maintaining the necessary hold which prevents the cover from dropping from position. At' the saine time, the cover may be readily removed when the opening is required. The lugs of the cover, also the lugs may be engaged or other tool for either fastenthe parts, as will be unby a wrench ing or loosening derstood.

As will be seen, the opposing surfaces of lthe coupling members which coperate with the box in being secured together, extend in substantially parallel planes, permitting the or bushing 14 foi` the con,

. lugs on the neck construction ofthe coupling -devices to be' `lugs have traversed the faces 8, while said faces 8 are yieldable toward the plane of the box wall, it will be readily understood that the nal seating of the coupling lugs within the notches or seats 9 practically provides a positioning of the coupling against endwise movement, while the bent faces 8 project into the clearance between the opposin couphng member, and thus forms a barrier against accidental return movement of the coupling member.

lt is characteristic of the several coupling devices and the hole covers that they are applied and manipulated from within the box, all of said devices being so arranged that they are fastened by such internal manipulation with Athe exception of the conduit bushing to the projecting portion of which it may-be necessary to applya wrench. But as the conduit clamping means is manipulated .at the outside of the box, no inconvenience results.

I claim 1'. The combination. of a sheet metal outlet box having an opening, the metal being bent adjacent theopening to form yieldable wedging surfaces, a coupling adapted to engage the surface of the box opposite the wedging surfaces and provided. with a neck which projects through the opening, and

which engage and wedge against the wedging surfaces whenv the 00upling isturned.

2. The combination of a sheet metal outlet box having a circular opening formed with offsets, the metal of the box adjacent the opening being bent to form yieldable wedging surfaces on one face of the box faces of the lugs'and annulus of the concentric to a wall of the opening, and a which lead from the opening offsets, in combination with covers having hook-like lugs struck up therefrom which are adapted to enter the opening oii'sets and engage the wedging surfaces when the covers are rotated.

4. The combination of an outlet box formed of sheet metal and having coupling openings, the metal adjacent the openings bent to form Wedging surfaces, a coupling extending through one of the openings, a shoulder on the coupling adapted to engage one face of the box, and lugs projecting from the coupling and spaced from said shoulder a distance reater than the thickness of the metal o? the box and adapted upon turning the coupling to frictionally engage said wedging surfaces and exert pressure thereon in the direction of the coupling shoulder, said wedging surfaces being free to move in the direction of pressure appliclation during the lug engagement therewit 5. An outlet box formed of sheet metal.

with openings'through the box walls, the metal of the walls being bent outwardly adjacent the openings to form outwardly extending wedging projections on `the exterior faces of the' walls, said projections terminating in seats, a coupling within and adapted to engage the inner surface of the box and having a portion extending through one of said openings, and lugs on the extended portion of the coupling adapted when the coupling is turned to extend over and bear against the Wedging projections on the outer surface of the box, said wedging projections being free to move in the direction of pressure application during the lug engagement therewith.

6. An outlet box formed of sheet metal with openings through the Walls of the box, the openings formed with offsets and the metal adjacent the offsets bent in wedge form with each of said Wedge-shaped bends tapering toward one of the opening oiisets, a coupling adapted to engage the surface of the box opposite said bends and having a portion extending through one of the openings, lugs on said extended portion adapted to pass through the opening offsets and move onto said tapered wedge-like bends when the coupling is turned, said bends being free to move in the direction of pressure application during the lug engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. MCGINLEY.

Witnesses:

J. M. NEsBrr, F. E. GAITHER. 

